1891                                  Joseph L. Colby                                   1935

Steel whaleback bulk freighter

Built at West Superior WI by American Steel Barge Co., Hull 108
First frames laid Aug 8, 1890, launched Nov 15, 1890

280’ LOA, 265’ LBP, 36’ beam, 22’ depth
1 deck, 7 hatches @ 16’, coal-fired boilers, fore and aft compound engine, 800 HP

Enrolled at Buffalo NY April 18, 1891 (#67)
265.0 x 36.0 x 22.0, 1245.02 GT, 914.95 NT     US 76933     to:
American Steel Barge Co., Buffalo NY (home port Buffalo NY)

Entered service May 4, 1891 carrying wheat from Superior WI to Buffalo NY.  Cleared Duluth MN, towing barges 109, 110 and 111.  The four vessels returned to Duluth with coal, where Colby and 110 were refitted for off-Lakes service.  Cleared Duluth, towing 110, with wheat for Kingston Ont.  Down Welland Canal June 4, 1891.  Cargo lightered at Kingston.  Great Lakes enrollment surrendered at Ogdensburg NY June 15, 1891 and vessel run down rapids to Montreal QC,  where cargo was reloaded.  (home port to Baltimore MD)

Returned to Great Lakes service 1897.  Reenrolled March 19, 1897 (home port to Buffalo NY)

Fleet sold 1900 to Bessemer Steamship Co., Cleveland OH (home port to Duluth MN)

Fleet merged March 1901 into Pittsburgh Steamship Co. Duluth MN, a subsidiary of United States Steel Corporation, A. B. Wolvin, Mgr.

Sold 1905 to Boutell Steel Barge Co., Bay City MI for off-Lakes service and renamed Bay State.  Left Great Lakes.  Great Lakes enrollment surrendered at Chicago IL May 24, 1905.

Sold Sept 22, 1922 to Central Dredging Co., Cleveland OH and returned to the Great Lakes.

Converted to sand dredge 1923 at Cleveland OH by Interlake Engineering Co.

Sold Oct 18, 1923 to Progress Steamship Co., Cleveland OH, Cleveland-Cliffs Iron Co., Mgr.

Sold 1926 to Smith-Truby Sand Co., Milwaukee WI

Returned 1931 to Progress Steamship Co.

Scrapped at Chicago IL 1935.  Final document surrendered at New York NY May 22, 1935

See history in Scanner Nov 1991 and Jan 1992 (#192)

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